Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expresses more willingness to limit access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors, stating in a social media post that treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy should only be available to individuals over 18.
Kennedy expressed his concerns about giving puberty blockers to young people, stating that minors are not able to fully comprehend the lifelong impact of such decisions, and comparing it to other adult activities that minors are not allowed to do. He made these comments in a post on Monday. in a post on X.
The part of the brain responsible for decision-making, the prefrontal cortex, is not fully developed until a person is in their early to mid-20s, according to Kennedy, who referenced the idea that changes in this part of the brain usually reach a stable point around age 25. Some studies indicate that the prefrontal cortex continues to mature until the age of 30, varying from person to person.
Kennedy stated that he believes children are not capable of providing genuine consent for treatments like puberty blockers and gender-change surgeries, which have permanent and irreversible effects. He emphasized the need for compassion and respect for those with gender dysphoria, but suggested that such serious procedures should be delayed until adulthood in order to protect children.
Gender-affirming medical care for transgender individuals, both adults and minors, is generally regarded as safe and medically essential by all major medical organizations, even though not every transgender individual opts for medical transition or has access to care. Based on standards of care set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, a nonprofit professional organization, surgery for minors is uncommon and not usually recommended. In the rare instances when minors do undergo gender-affirming surgery, it typically involves a double mastectomy, also known as top surgery. Genital surgery is never recommended for minors.
Long known for his skepticism of vaccines, Kennedy has frequently used his unlikely presidential campaign to spread medical misinformation, including the unfounded claim that certain chemicals in drinking water are causing children to identify as gay and transgender. He has also suggested that drugs known as poppers
played a part in the AIDS epidemic In December, Kennedy told conservative political commentator Patrick Bet-David.
during his podcast that minors should not have access to gender-affirming care without parental permission. “I don’t know enough about it to say that it should be completely illegal,” Kennedy stated. “I don’t know enough. I need to look at data before I make a decision.”
“My inclination is that it’s not good for anybody,” he remarked, though he acknowledged that “there may be some rare cases where it saves somebody’s life.”
During media interviews, Kennedy has also expressed his belief that parents should have the final decision on whether their children can receive education about gender identity in schools. He has consistently advocated against allowing transgender women and girls to participate in competitive sports teams.
A representative for Kennedy’s campaign did not immediately reply to questions about which new information may have influenced Kennedy to change his stance on youth access to gender-affirming care, or whether he now supports federal restrictions on care for minors.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seems to be more open to limiting access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors. He stated in a social media post that treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy should be saved for individuals over 18. “The more I learn, the more troubled I have become about giving puberty blockers to youth. Minors cannot drive, vote,…
